David Cowan
InvestorPartner at Bessemer Venture Partners
Redwood City, California
Writes $1M – $250M checks · typically $25M
FoundedBastille NetworksEndgamePicogridSmuleVirtru
Midas 2018 · #49Midas 2017 · #65Midas 2015 · #73Midas 2013 · #61Midas 2012 · #69Midas 2011Midas 2009Midas 2008Midas 2007Midas 2006Midas 2005Midas 2004Midas 2002Midas 2001
About
David Cowan blends investor and operator—co‑founding three cybersecurity companies from his firm's offices, including VeriSign where he was founding chairman and CFO—and pioneers proactive, research‑driven roadmaps into quantum and space.
Invests in
AI & Machine LearningCloud ComputingConsumerCybersecurityFintechGamingHealthtechSaaSSpace Tech
Experience
- Bessemer Venture PartnersPartnercurrent1992 — presentRedwood City, California, United States
- Rocket Lab USABoard Membercurrent2015 — presentAuckland, New Zealand
- Pale Blue Dot FilmsEmmy-nominated Producer and Directorcurrent2016 — present
- BubbleProofCo-writer, co-starcurrent2017 — present
- Center for InquiryBoard Trusteecurrent2017 — presentWashington D.C. Metro Area
- XanaduBoard Membercurrent2021 — presentToronto, Ontario, Canada
- ClarotyBoard Membercurrent2016 — presentTel Aviv Area, Israel
- Rigetti ComputingBoard Membercurrent2020 — presentBerkeley, California, United States
- GetInsured.comBoard Membercurrent2007 — present
- Auth0Board Member2014 — 2022Bellevue, WA
- EndgameBoard Member2010 — 2022Herndon, Virginia
- Voices in HarmonyPerforming Member2006 — 2018San Jose
- NominumBoard Member2002 — 2017Redwood City, CA
- LifeLockBoard Member2007 — 2017Tempe, AZ
- Lies in the AtticDirector, Writer2016San Jose, CA
- iSIGHT PartnersBoard Member2014 — 2015
- Skybox ImagingBoard Member2010 — 2014
- Defense.netBoard Member2012 — 2014San Carlos, CA
- LinkedInBoard Observer2008 — 2011
- PlaydomBoard Observer2009 — 2010
Education
- Harvard UniversityAB, Computer Science and Mathematics
- Harvard Business SchoolMBA
Skills & more
+3 more
Product ManagementStrategyCorporate DevelopmentLanguages French · Hebrew
From David's professional profile.
Same school
Also attended Harvard University1,231
+ 1,225 more
Also attended Harvard Business School1,818
+ 1,812 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Xanadu5
Also worked at GetInsured.com4
Also worked at Nominum1
Also worked at iSIGHT Partners2
Deals · 3
VirtruLed round
via Bessemer Venture Partners · filed Aug 2016
Distil NetworksLed round
via Bessemer Venture Partners · filed Jun 2015
PicogridQuoted
via Bessemer Venture Partners · filed Apr 2026
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Colleagues at Bessemer Venture Partners
Network40
▶28 more connections
Ben Donald · scoutBhavik Nagda · scoutBob Goodman · scoutBrian Feinstein · scoutBryan Wu · scoutCarine Magescas · scoutCaty Rea · scoutCharles Birnbaum · scoutChris Hollenbeck · scoutChristopher Wan · scoutChuck Templeton · scoutDaegwon Chae · scoutDan Ahn · scoutDarsh Patel · scoutDhruv Jain · scoutDixon Doll · scoutElliott Robinson · scoutEric Kaplan · scoutFabio Lancellotti · scoutFelda Hardymon · scoutGarth Timoll · scoutGary Kremen · scoutGeorge Bischof · scoutJeff Epstein · scoutJeffrey Blackburn · scoutJosh Hechtman · scoutTess Hatch · scoutThomas Korte · scout
Investors connected to David in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
























